The Benefits of Movement: Hadlock’s Personal Training Program

Reported By: Kate Mack

Photographed By: Allison Martinet

Throughout college, many students will encounter the struggle of trying to stay active, keep grades up, and still maintain a semblance of a social life. Recognizing there was a need, the Hadlock Student Center has provided a solution to students that not only allows them to add fitness into their routine but also allows them to connect with students in new and exciting ways. 

The Personal Training Program at Hadlock has been around for a little over a year now. Jason Hunter, one of the personal trainers, became involved in the program when it first began. He explained that the goal was to build a program for students to get paid to be a personal trainer while simultaneously helping their peers. The Personal Training Program gives students the ability to get excited about fitness and have an accountability partner who encourages them to stay active throughout their college experience. 

Darschelle Desronvil, a graduate student in the Physical Therapy Program at George Fox University (GFU), also works as a personal trainer at Hadlock. She began working at Hadlock because it was a way for her to use her degree and push people to be active. “Some [students] are like ‘I am so stressed and so busy,’ and I am able to say, ‘So am I,’ and it allows them to get the push to go to the gym once or twice a week,” said Desronvil. 

Hunter emphasized the benefits of working with a personal trainer, especially as a college student. Not only is working out a way to relieve stress, but it allows students to focus on their current health so that in the future, they already know how to stay active and take care of their bodies. Desronvil described that for many students, it can be scary first starting out with a trainer, but Hadlock allows group training so that anyone who feels nervous or hesitant can bring a friend. 

The Personal Training Program is led by students, for students. It allows students to continue to stay active while making connections both in and out of the gym. The program is there for many different types of people and many different types of workouts. Whether someone wants to begin a fitness journey or just wants to work out with more accountability, the program is there to help. 

Both Desronvil and Hunter explained that for students to stay motivated to go to the gym, having a personal trainer adds a layer of commitment and accountability that can be lost when people workout alone. For any students wishing to be a personal trainer in the Personal Training Program at GFU, Desronvil explained the simplicity of the process for certification. Any students interested in working as a trainer are encouraged to ask the Hadlock front desk for more information about the program.